Machine for placing string caps on milk bottles



Feb. 14, 1928.

C. L. TURNER MACHINE FOR PLACING STRING CAPS ON MILK BOTTLES Filed April 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jndqvwoy: 67/417255 Feb. 14, 1928. 1,659,177

c. L. TURNER MACHINE FOR PLACING STRING CAPS ON MILK BOTTLES 7 Filed April 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 TX ZW WWW;

Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

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CHARLES L. TURNER, OF SANTA MONICA, GALIFUBNIA.

MACHINE FOR PLACING STRING ON MILK BOTTLES.

Application filed April 3,

This invention relates to means which l'acilitate the removal of closure members of receptacles, such as milk bottles and relates more particularly to a machineffor placing the means at the time the closure member is placed in the receptacle. 3

In certainclasses of receptacles, such as mill; delivery bottles, card board discs are used as closure members. These discs are pressed intoannular recesses in the mouths of the bottles. Although, these closure means are very economical and efficient, difliculty is encountered in removing them from the bottles.

To remove a card board disc from the bottle, a sharp pointed instrument which is forced into the disc to pry it from the bottle must be used. It otten occurs, that in punching this closure member, it is forced further into the bottle and causes the con-.

tents thereof to be spattered on the person opening the bottle and on surrounding objects.

I have found that by placing a length of string under the disc so that the ends extend out therefrom, the disc may be very easily removed by holding one end of the string stationary and pulling upwardly on the other end thereof. I

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine which will place a string beneath the closure member of a receptacle.

It is another object to provide a machine o'l this character which may be attached to a standard capping machine and which will operate synchronously therewith.

lt is a turther objectof the invention to provide in this machine means for drawing the string over the opening in the receptacle and below the capping plunger of the capping machine.

It is a still further object to provide. a means mounted on the capping plunger by which the string will be cut as the plunger forces the cap into the opening of the receptacle.

Altho ugh my invention may be adapted to various classes of capping machines, I hereinafter describe its operation in combination with a mill: bottle cappin machine.

Further objects oi the invention and additional advantages thereof will be made evi dent hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings which for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a View of the upper portion of 1923. Serial No. 629,597.

aniilk bottle showing the cap removing dev ceas placed by the use of my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of my invention. 7

3 is a side elevation ot' the cam bloclr.

Fig. {l is a section taken on a plane represented by the line l-loi Fig. 2 showing the camand its cooperating follower menr hers.

' Fig. 5 is a section taken on a plane represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section, taken on a plane rep resented by the line6-6 of Fig. 2, showing the clamp member and pawl arrangement.

Fig.7 is a section showing the detent means which allows the string to travel in one direction only.

Fig. 8 is a l ragnientary elevational view showin the string stretched above the opening in the bottle previous to the placing of the cap and string member.

As shown in Fig. l of the drawings the mill; bottle 11 has a cap 12 closing the mouth 14 thereof. Placed beneath the cap 12 is a string member 16, the ends 17 thereof extending out as shown so that the cap of the milk bottle may be easilyremoved as herembefore (IlGSOIllOOCh In Fig. 2, mill; bottles20 are shown placed beneath the capping plungers which are a part of the capping machine, the plungers:

not being shown in this figure. The rods 21 and 22 are also a part of the standard capping machine to which this term of my invention is adapted.

The string 23, which is to be placedin lengths beneaththe cap as shown in Fig. 1, is wound on spools or magazines The magazines 24 are mounted on'a stationary frame 26 which is mounted on the slide rods 21, which are a part of the capping machine, by means of set screws 27. The strings 23 are directed through eyes 29 mounted on the tops of feeding arms 30. as shown in Figsd and 5 each arm 30 is attached to a hub31, and swings around a pin 32 which is supported by the frame 26. Projecting from the hubBl is a cam follower which is engaged bya cooperating cam 35 formed on a cam block 36. The block 36is secured,as by means of a set screw 38, to the reciprocating rod 22 which is a partot the capping machine and travels Ill lines to the position shown in full lines. As

the arm 30 reaches the position shown in full lines, the end of a string 23 which projects from the end of an arm 30 is gripped by the clan'ip'ng member -l as shown in Fig. 2.

The clamp 40 shown in Figs. 2, and 8, consists of a stationary jaw all which may be termed integral with the :trame 26, and gripper jaw 12, which may be pivoted on a shaft- 'll: mounted in the frame 26. Fixed to the cam block 36 by a cap screw to is shown a pawl l6, arranged to engage a projection 47 on the hub oi the arm in such manner as to hold the jaws of the clamp apart when the arms assume their inner closed position. This allows the projecting ends of the string 23 to extend between jaws 41 and 49 of the clamp at). The pawl d6 then passes the projection 47 and allows the jaws to grip the end of the string L3, a spring 48 being provided for forcibly closing the jaws. The rod 22 and block 36 then start on their downward travel. The pawl 46, being hinged at 49, passes the projection at? wittout interference thereto and each arm is allowed to move to the position indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 2, springs 50 being provided for returning the arms to this position. When the arms are in their outer position the strings 23, being clamped at the ends by the clamp 4-0, are pulled through the ends oi. the arms 30 and extend over and centrally across the openings of the milk bottles 20.

As shown in Fig. 8, the next operation is to cap the bottle and to cut the cord or string member 23 at a point adjacent to the ends of the arms 80. In the capping machine a capping plunger indicated diagramimitically at 51 is proy'ded having a string cutting knife 52 mounted on the side near the arm 30. As the plunger 51 travels downwardly and caps the bottle 20 the knife 52 mounted thereon will cut the strings 23 at 54: at the same time, a short length of string being left extending from the end oi the armSO so that the string may again be gripped by the clamp ll).

The string 23 being forced into the neck oi the bottle by the cap member which is placed 'n the bottle by the plunger 51, is pulled from between the jaws of the clamp 40. The plunger is then raised and the capped bottle moves from below the plunger and another bottle moves in place thereunder, the before described operation being again repeated. As shown in Fig. 7, on the end of each arm 30 I provide a cam member (30. This member allows the strings -53 to travel freely in the direction indicated by the arrow 61 but wll clamp the string in event the string tends to move in the opposite direction. This is to prevent the ends of the strings 23 being pulled by the drag of the spools 24 back so that they can not be gripped by the clamp 40.

From the foregoing it will easily be recognized that my invention may be conveniently installed upon the standard capping machines now employed. Also by its use a very cheap and ellicient opening means may be placed on the bottle. Another advantage ot my invention resides in the tact that it cooperates with the present capping machine and that no extra time is consumed in placing the str'ng under the cap because the string is passed over the bottle synchronously with the action of the capping plunger.

By attaching the frame 526 and block 36 by set screws 2? and 30 the device may be lowered or raised on their bars 91 and 22 respectively, to suit different sizes of bottles.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with a capping machine inc-hiding a plunger, a slide rod and a re ciprocating red, a device of the class described, comprising: means for extending a string between the mouth of a container being capped and the said plunger, said means including a string-bearing arm mount;- ed to swing horizontally from said slide rod; jaw means mounted upon said slide rod adapted to grasp a free end of string carried by said arm; and cam means coopcnting between said arm and said reciprocating rod and adapted to actuate said arm.

2. In combination with a capping machine including a plunger, a slide rod and a recipro-ating rod, a device of the class described, comprising: means for extending a string between the mouth of a container being capped and the said plunger, said means including a string-bearing arm mounted to swing horizontally from said slide rod jaw means mounted upon said slide rod adapted to grasp a free end of string carricdby said arm; cam means cooperating between said arm and said reciprocating rod and adapted to actuate said arm in one direction; and spring means adapted to actuate said arm in the opposite direction.

3. A device such as described in claim I; and pawl means near the free end of said arm adaptedto inhibit retraction of string.

l. In combination with a capping machine including a plunger, a slide rod and a reciprocating rod, a device of the class dc scribed, comprising: means for extending a string between the mouth of a container being capped and the said plunger, said means including a string-hearing arm nlount ed to swing horizontally from said slide rod: jaw means mounted upon said slide rod adapted to grasp a free end oi? string carried by said arm; cam means cooperating betweensaid arm and said reciprocating rod and adapted to actuate said arm; and a cutter carried by said plunger adapted to cut the string at a point between the danger and the end of said arm when said plunger descends.

capping plunger so that said string will be extended between the mouth or said contuiner and said capping plunger when said arm returns to normal position; and means carried by the plunger actuating means for spreading the jaws of said clamp to receive an end of said string.

6. In combination with a capping machine s including a capping plunger, a support, and means for actuating said plunger, a device of the class described, comprising: a string carrying arm mounted to swingupon said support between the mouth of the container to be capped and said capping plunger; a clamp associated with said support and arranged to clamp the end or the string when said arm is swung between said mouth of said container and said capping plunger so that said string will be extended between said mouth of said container and said capping plunger when said arm returns to a given position, said clamp comprising a relatively stationary jaw member carried by said support, a relatively movable jaw member pivotally associated with said stationary jaw member, and means carried by said plunger actuating means for actuating said movable jaw member by relative movement of said plunger actuating means and said support.

7. In combination with a capping machine including a capping plunger, a support, and means for actuating said plunger, a device of the class described, comprising: a string car rying arm mounted on said support on a pivot having a vertical axis to swing horizontally between the mouth of the container to be capped and said capping plunger; means for swinging said arm by relative movement of said support and said plunger actuating means, said means comprising a cam associated with said plunger actuating means and a follower associated with said arm and engaging said cam; a clamp associated with said support and arranged to clamp the end of the string when said arm is swung outwardly from said clamp between the mouth of said container and said capping plunger so that said string will be extended between said mouth of said container and said capping plunger when said arm returns to normal outward position; and means for spreading the jaws of said clamp to receive anend of said string.

8. In combination with a capping machine including a capping plunger, and a reciprocating rod, a device of the classdescribed, comprising: a string carrying arm adapted to swing horizontally between the mouth of a container to be capped and said plunger on a pivot having a vertical axis; a stationary bloclrarranged to carry said arm; a clamp associated with said stationary block and arranged to clamp the end of said string when said arm is swung outwardly from said clamp between said mouth oi said container and said capping plunger so that said string will be extended between said mouth of said container and said capping plunger when said arm returns to normal outward position; and means for spreading the jaws of said clamp in order to receive an end of said string.

9. In combination with a capping machine including plungers, slide rods, and a reciprocating rod, a device ofthe class described, comprising: means for extending strings between the mouths of containers being capped and the said plungers, said means in cluding string carrying arms mounted to swing horizontally on vertical pivots from said slide rods; jaw means mounted on said slide rods adapted to grasp free ends 01" strings carried by said arms; and cam means cooperating between said arms and said reciprocating rod for acti'lating said arms.

10. In combination with a capping 1nachine including a plunger, a slide rod, and a reciprocatingrod, a device of the class de scribed, comprising: means for extending a string between the mouth of a container bcmg capped and the said plunger, said means including a string-bearing arm mounted to swing from said slide rod; jaw means mounted upon said slide rod and adapted to grasp a free end of string carried by said arm; and cam means cooperating between said arm and said reciprocating rod and adapted to actuate said arm.

11. In combination with a capping machine including a support, a capping plunger, and means mounted upon said support for moving said capping plunger towards the mouth of a container, a device of the class described comprising: a string bearing arm pivotally mounted on said support to swing horizontally to extend a string between said capping plunger and the mouth of said container; jaw means mounted upon said sup port and adapted to grasp a free end of the string carried by said arm; and cam means cooperating between said arm and said plunger moving means for actuating said arm.

12. In combination with a capping ma chine including a support, a capping plunger, and means mounted upon said support for moving said capping plunger towards the mouth oi'a container, a device of thefclass capping,

described comprising: a string bearing arm pivotally mounted on said support to swing horizontally to extend a string between said capping plunger and the mouth of said container; jaw means mounted upon said support and adapted to grasp a free end of the string carried by said ari'n; means for yieldably closing said jaw means; and cam means cooperating between said arm and said plunger moving means for actuating said arm.

13. In combination with a capping machine including a sup iiort, a capping plunger, and means mounted upon said support for moving said capping plunger towards the mouth of a container, a device of the class described comprising: a string hearing arm pivotally mounted on said support to swing horizontally to extend a string hetween said capping plunger and the mouth of said container; jaw means mounted upon said support and adapted to grasp a free end of the string carried by said arm; means for yicldalily closing said jaw nu-uns; means actuated by said 1 )l1lllg0l' moving means for opening said jaw means; and ram means eoopernting between said arm and said plunger moving means for actuating said arm.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, I alifornia, this 1 28th day of March, 1923.

CHARLES 'L. 'IYURNER. 

